Alexandra Paul, a former “Baywatch” lifeguard who played Lt. Stephanie Holden (1992–1997), traded her red swimsuit for a protective suit during a real-life puppy rescue that did not go as planned.
The 62-year-old actress was one of 27 animal-rights activists arrested Sunday, March 15, at Ridglan Farms, a beagle breeding facility in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, about 30 miles west of Madison. Roughly 60 protesters from across the country, including attorney and activist Wayne Hsiung, stormed the property wearing protective gear, broke into the buildings, and removed more than 20 beagles bred for biomedical research, according to multiple law-enforcement and activist reports.
Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett confirmed deputies responded after reports of the break-in. Video footage circulating on social media shows activists carrying the beagles out of cages while authorities arrive. Eight of the dogs were recovered by police and returned to the farm; the rest were taken to undisclosed locations and placed with adoptive families by rescuers, activists said.
Paul and roughly 20 others face misdemeanor trespassing charges under Wisconsin law, which can carry a maximum of 9 months in jail and a $10,000 fine. Burglary tools and two vehicles were seized at the scene. Some activists, including Hsiung, were initially held before most were released pending trial. Ridglan Farms’ attorney said the company plans to press charges “to the full extent of the law.”
The facility, which has operated for nearly 60 years, breeds beagles sold to laboratories. It had already agreed to surrender its state license by July 1, 2026, after an investigation uncovered surgeries performed without anesthesia, prompting felony mistreatment charges that were ultimately dropped in exchange for shutting down breeding operations. The farm continues under its federal USDA license.
Sheriff Barrett issued a statement balancing sympathy and enforcement: “The Dane County Sheriff’s Office understands how deeply people feel for the beagles at Ridglan Farms, and we respect their right to express that passion through peaceful protests. Our role is to keep everyone safe and respond when unlawful activity occurs. We encourage anyone with concerns about animal welfare or research practices to engage through lawful and constructive avenues.”
Paul, a longtime animal-rights activist, has a history of similar direct actions. In 2021, she was charged with misdemeanor theft after taking two chickens from a Foster Farms truck in California; she was later acquitted. Social-media posts and videos from the Wisconsin raid quickly went viral, with users dubbing the operation everything from a “heroic beagle heist” to “illegal trespassing that endangers public safety.” One widely shared clip shows the slow-motion drama reminiscent of classic “Baywatch” rescue scenes — only this time the “victims” had four legs and floppy ears.
This incident fits a pattern of escalating animal-liberation efforts targeting beagle breeders and research facilities. Activists say they undertake these direct actions to draw attention to what they describe as inhumane conditions and to prompt public scrutiny of animal research. Ridglan Farms has faced protests for decades. Similar raids have occurred at other U.S. breeding operations supplying labs, though arrests remain relatively rare. Critics argue these acts constitute burglary that disrupts legitimate veterinary research.
Hsiung, speaking after his release, told local media the group sought attention in a polarized climate: “Are we trying to get attention? Of course. In today’s political environment, the only way to get anything done is to get some attention.” He explained that the group believes public awareness is key to changing industry practices and influencing policy. Paul herself has not issued a public statement since the arrest, but her involvement continues a personal crusade that began long after her “Baywatch” days ended. While the beagles remain at the center of the debate — some now in new homes, others back at the farm — the case highlights the growing clash between passionate activists and licensed research operations still operating within federal guidelines.
As one viral social-media post put it, the former TV lifeguard “dove headfirst into the deep end of animal rights.” Whether the courts see it as a heroic rescue or criminal trespass, Paul’s latest splash has already made waves far beyond Wisconsin’s shores.
